2014 Women’s Team USA Primer

With the women’s hockey portion of the Olympics beginning tomorrow, I thought it would be prudent to hit you guys with a primer of the need to know on the awesome ladies representing our country in Sochi.

Name/#: Brianne McLaughlin-Bittle/29
Hometown: Sheffield Village, OH
Position: Goaltender
3 Things To Know: 1) Currently finishing her nursing degree at Robert Morris University.
2) Played 2010-2011 season with the Burlington Barracudas of the CWHL.
3) Silver medalist at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver; gold medalist at 2011 & 2013 Women’s World Championships and silver medalist in 2012.

Name/#: Molly Schaus/30
Hometown: Natick, MA
Position: Goaltender
3 Things To Know: 1) Played for the Boston Blades of the CWHL the last two seasons and won the Clarkson Cup in 2013.
2) Finished 4-year career as Boston College’s all-time leader with 80 wins, 1.81 GAA, and 3428 saves in 134 games.
3) 2 time Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award top-10 finalist (2009, 2011).

Name/#: Kacey Bellamy/22
Hometown: Westfield, MA
Position: Defense
3 Things To Know: 1) Played the last 3 seasons with the Boston Blades of the CWHL, winning the Clarkson Cup in 2013.
2) Served as alternate captain on 2013 Women’s World Championship gold medal team.
3) Graduated from the University of New Hampshire 3rd all-time in career points by a defenseman with 107 (27-80) in 143 games.

Name/#: Megan Bozek/9
Hometown: Buffalo Grove, IL
Position: Defense
3 Things To Know: 1) Finalist (top 3) for Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award in 2013.
2) Won gold (2013) and silver (2012) with the US at the Women’s World Championships.
3) WCHA defensive player of the year in 2012-2013.

Name/#: Gigi Marvin/19
Hometown: Warroad, MN
Position: Defense
3 Things To Know: 1) Played last 2 seasons with the Boston Blades of the CWHL, winning the Clarkson Cup in 2013.
2) Two-time top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.
3) Played for the Minnesota Whitecaps of the Western Women’s Hockey League in 2010-2011 and helped lead the team to a WWHL title and a berth in the Clarkson Cup playoffs.

Name/#: Michelle Picard/23
Hometown: Taunton, MA
Position: Defense
3 Things To Know: 1) Team captain on US 2010 U18 series team and 2011 U18 Women’s World Championships.
2) Played last 2 seasons at Harvard University of ECAC Hockey, completing her sophomore season in 2012-2013.
3) Won gold (2013) and silver (2012) in 2 appearances at the Women’s World Championships.

Name/#: Josephine Pucci/24
Hometown: Pearl River, NY
Position: Defense
3 Things To Know: 1) Named one of 3 captains for 2012-2013 seasons but withdrew from Harvard University due to a concussion. Will serve as a captain for the 2013-2014 season.
2) Nominated for the Patty Kazmaier Award her junior season (2011-2012).
3) Won gold (2011) and silver (2012) in 2 appearances at the Women’s World Championships.

Name/#: Anne Schleper/15
Hometown: St. Cloud, MN
Position: Defense
3 Things To Know: 1) Won the 2013 Clarkson Cup in her first season with the Boston Blades of the CWHL.
2) Won 2 golds (2011, 2013) and one silver (2012) in 3 appearances with the US at the Women’s World Championships.
3) Captured national title with the Minnesota Gophers her senior season (2011-2012).

Name/#: Lee Stecklein/2
Hometown: Roseville, MN
Position: Defense
3 Things To Know: 1) Won gold at 2013 Women’s World Championships.
2) Won national championship with the University of Minnesota her freshman season (2012-2013).
3) Two of her 3 goals that season came on the power play and were game-winning goals.

Name/#: Alex Carpenter/25
Hometown: North Reading, MA
Position: Forward
3 Things To Know: 1) Earned Cammi Granato/Athletic Republic Player of the Year Award her sophomore season (2012-2013).
2) First freshman to lead Boston College in scoring since 2006; was also nominated for the Patty Kazmaier Award that year.
3) Won gold at the 2013 Women’s World Championships.

Name/#: Kendall Coyne/26
Hometown: Palos Heights, IL
Position: Forward
3 Things To Know: 1) Unanimous choice as Hockey East Rookie of the Year (2011-2012).
2) Won 2 golds (2011, 2013) and one silver (2012) in 3 Women’s World Championships appearances.
3) Player of the game for the US in the 2012 gold medal game.

Name/#: Julie Chu/13
Hometown: Fairfield, CT
Position: Forward
3 Things To Know: 1) 3-time Olympian. Silver medalist in 2002, 2010; bronze medalist in 2006.
2) Captained 2012 silver medal and 2013 gold medal teams at the Women’s World Championships.
3) Recently completed her 3rd season with the Montreal Stars of the CWHL, including back to back Clarkson Cup wins in 2011 and 2012.

Name/#: Amanda Kessel/28
Hometown: Madison, WI
Position: Forward
3 Things To Know: 1) Scored game-winning goal and was USA’s player of the game in gold medal game versus Canada at the 2013 Women’s World Championships.
2) 2013 winner of the Patty Kazmaier Award.
3) Became only the 4th player in NCAA history to reach 100 points in a season.

Name/#: Hilary Knight/21
Hometown: Sun Valley, ID
Position: Forward
3 Things To Know: 1) Won 2013 Clarkson Cup in her first season with the Boston Blades of the CWHL.
2) Became the first American-born player to win the CWHL’s most valuable player award.
3) 3 time Patty Kazmaier Award top-10 finalist.

Name/#: Jocelyne Lamoureux/17
Hometown: Grand Forks, ND
Position: Forward
3 Things To Know: 1) Top-3 finalist for Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award her junior season (2011-2012).
2) State runner-up with the Grand Forks (ND) Wheatkings Bantam A Boys’ team, along with her sister Monique, in 2003-2004.
3) Currently pursuing her master’s degree in kinesiology and has a 4.0 GPA.

Name/#: Monique Lamoureux/7
Hometown: Grand Forks, ND
Position: Forward
3 Things To Know: 1) Switched from forward to defense the latter part of her sophomore season (2010-2011) at the University of North Dakota.
2) Lone freshman in 2008-2009 season to be nominated for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.
3) Currently pursuing her master’s degree in kinesiology and has a 4.0 GPA.

Hannah Stuart

Wrangler of teenagers by day, writer by night. Hockey enthusiast from the land of no hockey. Multiple NHL team devotee (PIT/CHI/EDM). Student of the Coach Eric Taylor school of thought - clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.